Abstract

Skills and development: The way undergraduate dental students have been taught and their methods of learning have evolved over decades. Education methods and needs: Perhaps the most rapid and exponential changes have been in the last two decades with the introduction and utilisation of digital media platforms and social media capabilities. Academic and clinical aspects of dentistry are divided within the curriculum, but less consideration and logic are exercised when focusing on the methods of delivering education and the students’ own preferences, capabilities and adaptation towards learning. Technology and dental education and what we believe: In higher education, closed questionnaires were provided to both dental students (50) and teachers (10) relating to delivery methods and their beliefs regarding education techniques available. Opinions regarding these methods still differ amongst dental teachers and students, with an affinity from the dental students towards the use of emerging technology available in dentistry. However, the questionnaires revealed both groups preferred education via direct care on patients more than any other method of education. Conclusion: The literature would indicate some progress made within the dental profession relating to the use of digital media, advanced technology and improved dental software, however, this has not yet been transferred to dental higher education, despite an accessible and obvious availability of modern resources and techniques.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.